Inheriting a Home: A Realtor’s Guide to Your First Steps

Inheriting a home is often an emotional experience. Along with memories and family history, you may suddenly find yourself responsible for decisions that carry both sentimental and financial weight. From maintenance and legal considerations to deciding whether to sell or keep the property, the process can feel overwhelming. As a realtor who’s guided many clients through this transition, I want to share where to begin — and how to make the process smoother and more successful.

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The Top 5 Most Important Things to Do First

1. Secure the Property
   Change the locks, check windows and doors, and ensure the home is safe. This is especially important if the house has been vacant.

2. Gather All Legal Documents
   Locate the will, trust, property deed, mortgage information, and insurance policies. These will determine how the property can be transferred or sold.

3. Understand the Financial Picture
   Confirm if there are outstanding mortgages, liens, or property taxes. This will help you decide whether keeping or selling the home makes sense.

4. Assess the Home’s Condition
   Walk through the property and make notes of repairs, updates, or items that need removal. An early assessment helps prioritize next steps.

5. Consult Professionals
   Speak with a probate attorney, tax advisor, and realtor. Each plays a role in ensuring the inheritance process is handled properly and with your best interests in mind.

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Step-by-Step Process for Moving Forward

• Step 1: Probate & Title Transfer
  Work with your attorney to complete probate (if necessary) and transfer the home’s title into your name. Without this, you won’t be able to legally sell.

• Step 2: Evaluate Your Options
  Decide whether to live in the home, rent it, or sell it. Each choice comes with different tax and maintenance responsibilities.

• Step 3: Prepare the Home
  Declutter, remove furniture, and handle deferred maintenance. Many inherited homes need updating to appeal to today’s buyers.

• Step 4: Determine Market Value
  A realtor can provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) to show the true value of the property in today’s market.

• Step 5: Create a Plan
  If selling, develop a timeline and marketing strategy. If renting or keeping, plan for upkeep, insurance, and property management.

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The Step That Will Surprise You

Here’s where I come in with something you won’t expect — my Sellers Concierge Service.

This exclusive program takes the stress out of preparing an inherited home for the market. I cover essential services like:

• Furniture and trash removal

• Touch-up painting and repairs

• Professional House Cleaning
• Window Cleaning (First Floor)

• Carpet and grout cleaning

• Landscape clean-up

• Professional home staging (at a flat-rate fee deducted at closing)

The best part? You don’t pay up front for these services. I handle everything from start to finish, ensuring the home is market-ready and positioned to sell for top dollar.

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Final Thoughts

Inheriting a home doesn’t have to feel like a burden. With the right guidance and support, it can become an opportunity — whether that means creating a fresh start, generating rental income, or selling for maximum value.

If you’ve inherited a home and don’t know where to begin, let’s talk. With my expertise and my Sellers Concierge Service, I’ll make the process smooth, efficient, and successful.

📞 Call me today to start with a no-obligation consultation.

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